Paul John Keating
NAA: A6180, 10/11/95/1
Paul Keating was elected the Member for Blaxland (New South Wales) in 1969. He served as a minister in the Whitlam and Hawke governments. He was Minister for Northern Australia (October–November 1975), Treasurer (1983–91), Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Commonwealth-State Relations and Deputy Prime Minister (1990–91).
Keating resigned from the Hawke Ministry in June 1991. He became prime minister later that year after being elected Leader of the Labor Party. Keating remained prime minister until 1996. He left politics in April that year after his government's electoral defeat.
What's in the National Archives on Paul John Keating?
- Personal records of Keating
- Cabinet records
- Departmental records
- Annita Keating
- Photographs
- Relevant research guides
- Research databases
Many of the Archives' records relevant to Paul Keating are not yet available for public access. Under the Archives Act 1983, Commonwealth records are open to public access 30 years from the date they were created. The records of the Keating government will begin coming into the open period in 2022.
This page introduces the records relevant to Paul Keating and features those currently available to the public – mainly photographs or audiovisual material that is already in the public domain.
Personal records of Keating
People in prominent positions often have significant personal collections of records, as well as creating records in the institutions in which they work. These personal collections are usually a mixture of official and private material and may span a number of different positions. The National Archives collects personal records from Governors-General, Prime Ministers, ministers and some judges. For more information, see Commonwealth persons.
The National Archives holds a collection of Paul Keating's personal records. It comprises nine series, primarily created by Keating as a member of parliament, shadow minister, Treasurer, Cabinet minister and Prime Minister. Included are subject and correspondence files, speeches, transcripts, press releases and press clippings, electorate briefings, invitations, audio and video tapes, and Cabinet papers.
More detail on Keating's personal records can be found in RecordSearch. Enter his Commonwealth person number (CP 665) into the field for 'Reference numbers'. Then select from the 'Search' drop-down menu to search 'Series'.
Cabinet records
Cabinet records consist of minutes, submissions, memoranda and other documents of Cabinet decisions. They are a valuable source for research on the work of a former Prime Minister.
Cabinet records created in 1991 – the Keating government's first year in power – will be open for public access in 2022.
Cabinet notebooks record the proceedings of Cabinet meetings, including individual ministers' views. Because this material is more sensitive, the closed period for Cabinet notebooks is longer – 50 years. Cabinet notebooks from Keating's term will not open until 2042.
For more information, see The Collection – Cabinet.
Toward the end of 1975, Keating was briefly part of the Whitlam Cabinet. These Cabinet records will open in 2006. He was also a member of the Hawke Cabinet from March 1983. Cabinet records from 1983 will open in 2014.
Departmental records
Evidence of the work of former prime ministers can also be found in series created by government departments. For Keating, relevant records are those created by the departments of
- Prime Minister and Cabinet (CA 1401)
- Northern Australia (CA 1889)
- Treasury (CA 2141)
Each Commonwealth agency (or CA) has a number, as cited above. These numbers can be used to search RecordSearch for records created by that agency. Enter an agency number (eg CA 1401) into the field for 'Reference numbers'. Then select from the 'Search' drop-down menu to search 'Series'.
Annita Keating
Records relating to Annita Keating include photographs, sound recordings and video tapes of media interviews. Some of these are from Paul Keating's personal records. Various government departments will also have created Commonwealth records relating to Annita Keating in her role as spouse of the Prime Minister.
 | Photograph of a Japanese princess with the Keatings at The Lodge, 1992 | 1992 | A8746, KN26/11/92/1-3 | ||
| Photograph of the Ex-President of the US, George Bush, and Barbara Bush with the Keatings in Sydney, 1994 | 1994 | A8746, KN6/12/94/23-24 | ||
| Photograph of Paul and Annita Keating's farewell for the Dutch Ambassador at The Lodge, 1995 | 1995 | A8746, KN6/7/95/1-3 | ||
 | Photograph of Paul and Annita Keating after Labor's election victory in 1993 | 1993 | A6135, K18/3/93/1 | ||
 | Photograph of Paul and Annita Keating being welcomed at the airport by the Japanese Prime Minister and his wife, 1995 | 1995 | A8746, KN7/6/95/366 | ||
Photographic records relating to Keating
| Ministerial portrait photograph of PJ Keating and others, 1983–86 | 1983–86 | A11245, 1 | ||
 | Photograph of PJ Keating at the National Press Club, 1993 | 1993 | A6135, K27/7/93/59 | ||
| Photograph of PJ Keating with rock group Yothu Yindi, 1992 | 1992 | A6180, 9/11/92/1 | ||
| Photograph of PJ Keating with the President of Indonesia, 1992 | 1992 | A6180, 24/8/92/5-6 | ||
| Photograph of PJ Keating giving artist Arthur Boyd his Australian of the Year award, 1995 | 1995 | A6180, 30/8/95/1-8 | ||
Relevant research guides
The National Archives has produced a number of research guides and fact sheets that may assist you with your research on Paul John Keating. These are available from the website and in print versions.
Records of Australian prime ministers, 1901–71 (Fact Sheet 70)
Near neighbours: Records on Australia's relations with Indonesia (Research Guide 16)
Sound recordings in the National Archives (Research Guide 17)
Australian Overseas Information Service photographs (Fact Sheet 47)
Research databases
RecordSearch contains searchable descriptions of millions of items from our collection. Many of them are wholly digitised.
PhotoSearch allows you to search and browse over 110 000 photographs from our collection.